Application Program Interface
API
Application Programming Interface
Applications Programming Interface
<programming> (API, or "application programming interface")
The interface (calling conventions) by which an {application
program} accesses {operating system} and other services. An
API is defined at {source code} level and provides a level of
{abstraction} between the application and the {kernel} (or
other privileged utilities) to ensure the {portability} of the
code.
An API can also provide an interface between a {high level
language} and lower level utilities and services which were
written without consideration for the {calling conventions}
supported by compiled languages. In this case, the API's main
task may be the translation of parameter lists from one format
to another and the interpretation of {call-by-value} and
{call-by-reference} arguments in one or both directions.
(1995-02-15)